Work with an Advisor who takes the time to know you.

Starting your investment journey is easier when you work with a dedicated professional who provides you with a high level of service and expertise. Your BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor will get to know you and your financial situation, and help build an investment strategy that’s right for your life. Your Investment Advisor will help you explore your objectives, the role risk plays in your investment life, and other factors that contribute to an effective investment strategy.

Why use an investment advisor?

You want to make the most of your money. That means carefully formulating wealth needs and goals and putting a plan into place that will help you meet your goals over a lifetime of investing and managing your wealth.

That’s why it’s important to work with a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor. Our Investment Advisors are the best in the business. They’re experienced wealth managers, backed by the vast resources of BMO Financial Group. They have access to top-ranked financial planning tools, expertise, research* and technology that keeps them on top of wealth management strategies, financial markets and all the developments that affect your financial life.

Even more important, your BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor will take the time to know you. That way, you and your Investment Advisor will develop the kind of relationship that defines financial success — on your terms. Everything BMO Nesbitt Burns does will be focused on understanding your individual wealth needs and creating custom solutions to meet them. Whether it’s financial planning, investing, retirement management, insurance or any other aspect of managing your wealth, a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor can help.

But don’t take our word for it. Meet with a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor and find out for yourself how we can help you get where you want to go. Contact a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor at a branch near you. Or, to have an Investment Advisor contact you, complete this form. We think it’s one of the smartest financial moves you can make.

Your BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor will get to know you and your situation then help you establish clear objectives. Are you planning for retirement? Saving for a house? Planning for your children’s education? Whatever your objectives, your Investment Advisor will help you clarify them.

We know that everyone’s needs and goals are different. We don’t use “cookie-cutter” solutions. We will work closely with you to make realistic recommendations that define your financial life on your individual, unique terms. And we’ll build a long-term relationship with you to ensure you keep meeting your goals.

There’s no better time than now to explore your investment objectives. Contact an Investment Advisor at a BMO Nesbitt Burns branch near you. Or, to have an Investment Advisor contact you, complete this form.

Risk

Risk is a key element of your investment objectives. Can you tolerate the higher degree of risk involved in growth investments such as equities? Or are you the kind of investor who wants a steady, conservative approach to minimize potential ups and downs in your investment portfolio?

Everybody reacts differently to risk. Some investors lose sleep over short-term volatility in financial markets and their portfolios. For others, volatility is just a minor bump on the road to longer-term success.

A BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor can help you discover where you stand on risk. It’s critical to have a handle on your tolerance for risk because it will influence the types of investments you choose. When you work with a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor, you’ll be exploring your risk tolerance with an expert. You’ll get clear guidance on how much risk makes sense, and when.

Time horizon

How long do you have to invest? That’s not just a question of age. It also relates to how far in the future your financial goals are. The answer can influence everything from the types of investments you choose to how much risk you’ll need to take to reach your objectives.

Over your lifetime, you’ll have all kinds of financial goals. Some will be around the corner, others will be decades away. Perhaps you want to move to a larger house in a couple of years and you’re saving and investing for that new home. That’s a short-term goal. At the same time you’re putting money into an RRSP for your retirement. That’s a long-term goal. And along the way you’ll have objectives that fit somewhere in between, such as investing for your children’s post-secondary education.

When you’re young and dealing with long-term objectives such as retirement savings, you can afford to take more risk and tolerate shorter-term volatility in financial markets. On the other hand, if you plan to buy that new home two years from now, the potential of riskier investments to fluctuate in value will be a big concern. You don’t want to cash investments in the midst of a financial market downturn.

A BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor will be happy to explain how your time frame and other factors can affect your investment strategy and decisions. Contact a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor at a branch near you. Or, to have an Investment Advisor contact you, complete this form.

Asset mix strategy

You may have heard it a thousand times, but in the world of investing it bears repeating: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” That’s the simple principle behind asset mix and diversification.

Your asset mix is the blend of investments that you hold in your portfolio. How you divide your investment dollars among different types of investments is known as “asset allocation.” How you allocate your assets influences the diversification level, returns potential and the overall risk of your investment portfolio.

BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisors are asset mix experts. We’ll show you how a diversified and balanced investment portfolio can help increase your investment returns potential, at the same time helping manage risk.

The key to an effective asset mix strategy is diversification and balance among major asset classes — such as cash-related investments, growth investments and fixed income investments. Balance allows you to take advantage of growth, at the same time helping offset potential volatility of equities with more conservative, stable investments.

An Investment Advisor will help make sure your individual asset mix always reflects your current and future investments needs. Contact a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor at a branch near you. Or, to have an Investment Advisor contact you, complete this form.

Your taxes

Paying attention to the tax consequences of investing can put less in the hands of the Canada Revenue Agency and more in your pocket. A BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor can show you tax-smart ways to invest.

Capital gains are taxed at a preferential rate. Only 50% of a capital gain — the profit you make when you sell an investment for more than you paid — is taxable. In most cases, capital gains are taxed only when assets are sold.

Dividends from Canadian companies are eligible for preferential tax treatment through a dividend tax credit. The federal dividend tax credit effectively equals of 27.55% of dividends paid. Provincial tax credits are similar.

The actual tax you pay depends on your individual tax rate. The higher your top tax rate, the bigger the tax bite on your investments.

If investments are held in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or other registered plan, growth will be sheltered from tax — regardless of how long they are held or the tax rate outside a registered plan. You’ll pay tax only when you withdraw the money.

Note: These comments are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax law: The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be attained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances.

Insurance basics

When planning your finances and investments, don’t overlook the role insurance can play. It can be a flexible, multi-faceted financial vehicle that offers a combination of cost-effective financial protection, plus the potential to accelerate the growth of your assets while also preserving them for the next generation.

There are many innovative uses for insurance products. Life insurance, disability insurance and critical illness insurance can all be part of an effective overall financial strategy. Here’s a sampling of what insurance can do:

Provide a tax-efficient alternative to saving for retirement after maximizing RRSP and TFSA contributions.

Keep property such as a cottage in the family, while easing capital gains tax concerns.

Provide financial protection if you or your spouse is suddenly unable to earn income due to accident or illness.

Ensure your family is protected financially should you or your spouse die.

When it comes to insurance planning, a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor can point you in the right direction. Your Investment Advisor will be pleased to introduce you to an Estate & Insurance Advisor (Financial Security Advisor in Quebec).